The Saudi Coalition claimed that the air defense of the country intercepted and destroyed a drone fired by Ansarullah towards Saudi Arabia before it entered the prohibited airspace of Mecca.
Details of the Incident
Turki al-Maliki, the spokesman for the Saudi Coalition, announced that this drone was identified and shot down on Tuesday evening south of Mecca. Al-Maliki described this incident as a "hostile and terrorist attempt" to target Mecca and added that this is the second instance of Ansarullah's attempts to target this city. According to him, the first instance dates back to the firing of a ballistic missile in 2017.
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Response of the Saudi Coalition
Al-Maliki emphasized that the security of the two holy mosques and the pilgrims is a "red line" and threatened that the Saudi Coalition would take necessary and deterrent actions against Ansarullah's attacks. In response, Hazem al-Asad, a member of the political bureau of Ansarullah, rejected Saudi Arabia's claim about targeting Mecca and called it a "repetitive lie."
Condemnation of Attacks
At the same time, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation also condemned the recent attacks attributed to Ansarullah against various regions of Saudi Arabia, including Mecca and Medina. These developments occurred after Saudi Arabia warned on Tuesday about the possibility of attacks in several areas including Mecca, Taif, Jeddah, Abha, and Jizan.
The Saudi Coalition also claimed that recent missile and drone attacks by Ansarullah on Khamis Mushait, Abha, and Taif left 13 injured and damaged seven residential homes and two vehicles. The Saudi government condemned the attacks attributed to Ansarullah against civilian targets and emphasized its right to defend the territory and sovereignty of the country.
Recent Developments
In recent weeks, Ansarullah has repeatedly announced attacks on targets in southern Saudi Arabia, especially oil facilities; attacks that have been met with reactions and condemnation from Arab countries and the Gulf Cooperation Council. Meanwhile, tensions in the region continue to rise, creating new risks for regional security.
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